Sleep quality and prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in service-sector teleworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63434/30286999.2Keywords:
Teleworking, depression, anxiety, COVID-19, sleep qualityAbstract
As in previous pandemics, the recent COVID-19 pandemic generated physical isolation measures that led to changes in work modalities, such as teleworking, which became an important alternative to addressing the labor needs of the country and the world.
Objective: to determine sleep quality and the prevalence of potential mental health disorders such as anxiety and/or depression using screening scales in a sample of Colombian teleworkers engaged in service activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Methodology: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted remotely with a self-administered questionnaire using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The selection process was based on nonprobability convenience sampling and referral snowball sampling.
Results: 68,98 % (n = 129) of respondents reported inadequate sleep quality, most of whom were women, 35,83 % (n = 46). In terms of service activities, it was possible to determine that “Other services” was the category that most reported inadequate sleep quality 42,64 % (n = 55), along with the 28 - 37 age group 19,79 % (n = 37). In the anxiety component, 25,67 % (n = 48) of respondents were affected, with the female population accounting for 50 % (n = 24); the “other services” sector accounted for 47,91 % (n = 23), and the 18 - 27 and 28 – 37 age group for 6,42 % (n = 12). Finally, in the depression component, 11,23 % (n = 21) were affected, of which 42,86 % (n = 7) were women. The most affected service was "other services" with 57,14 % (n = 12); and respondents between the ages of 28 to 37 with 4,82 % (n = 9).
Conclusions: this study showed a significant impact on sleep quality. In contrast, the prevalence rates for anxiety and depression did not reach high levels. However, these significant values support the need for policies regulating remote workloads and promoting psychosocial well-being.
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